You'll Get a Charge Out of This

We live in an electronic age.

You know how it goes.

The more stuff you get, the more places you need to plug it in.

How many things do you have that require recharging?

Multiply that by six, and you have my tangled cord nightmare.

And my new camera is rechargeable, so x*6+1=y,

as in why am I tripping over things all the time???

We need a solution for this problem. 

 First up, I already had this great charging station that hangs on the wall. I got it, you know, before the fire. 

It's still available at Target for $50, but I waited until it was on sale for $35.

With the walls all painted, it was time to put the silly thing into active duty, and time to teach the oldest the easiest way to hang any piece with two screw holes.

 First, stretch a piece of painter's tape across the piece to be hung over the screw holes. 

Poke through with a pencil.

Repeat on the other side. Do not let the tape droop, keep it taut.

Mark the wall where you want to hang your piece and then take the painter's tape and,

well, stick it to the wall.

There's not a lot of creative ways to say that.

 Check the tape with a level.

 Drill pilot holes in the holes you poked through the tape with a bit about half the size of the screws you're going to use. Make sure you're drilling into solid wood. If not, you'll need anchors for the next part. My house, however, only has drywall where I've put it.

 Um, screw in your screws.

 Make sure they are not completely flush with the wall.

 Hang.

 Okay, one dilemma down.

 Next, the LAN party that ensues at the dining room table. 5 laptops, and they also end up all over the place when we sit down for a meal.

 But there's not only THAT clutter and confusion...

 ...there's THIS.

 Hello, antique ice box.

 I'm probably going to drill a hole in the back later, but this is a 5 minute quick fix that was too simple. I fed that monster power strip out an existing knot hole and plugged it in.

 The excess cord got corralled with an extra long twist tie.

 Platter rack by Rubbermaid, $4.98 at KMart.

 And we have laptop storage and charging capabilities that the Minions are totally okay with. It's easier to stash them here than unplug them and cart them elsewhere.

 And I get my dining room back.

 Hey, don't give me that look.

Not EVERYTHING can be an upcycling project. I have to put stuff away sometimes.

Now get that look off your face or I'll post that laundry folding tutorial I keep threatening to do.

Between Naps on the Porch

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Simply Designing